150+ Idioms & Phrases for IB ACIO Exam

160 vocabulary flashcards covering the idioms and phrases listed in the lecture notes, each with its meaning for effective exam revision.

A hot potato

Something that is difficult or dangerous to deal with.

A penny for your thoughts

A way of asking what someone is thinking.

Actions speak louder than words

What you do is more significant than what you say.

Add insult to injury

To make a bad situation worse.

An arm and a leg

A lot of money.

At the drop of a hat

Immediately; without any hesitation.

Back to the drawing board

Start something all over again.

Ball is in your court

It is up to you to take the next step.

Barking up the wrong tree

Looking in the wrong place; accusing the wrong person.

Be glad to see the back of

Be pleased when someone leaves.

Beat around the bush

Avoid answering a question; not speaking directly about an issue.

Best of both the worlds

A situation where one can enjoy two different opportunities.

Best thing since sliced bread

A good idea or plan; an excellent new invention.

Bite off more than you can chew

To take on a task that is way too big.

Blessing in disguise

Something good that isn’t recognized at first.

Burn the midnight toil

Stay up working, especially studying, late at night.

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Don’t judge something primarily by its appearance.

Caught between two stools

Finding it difficult to choose between two alternatives.

Cross that bridge when you come to it

Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary.

Cry over spilled milk

Be unhappy about something that cannot be undone.

Curiosity killed the cat

Being too curious can get you into trouble.

Cut corners

Take shortcuts; do something badly to save money or time.

Cut the mustard

Perform satisfactorily; succeed.

Devil’s advocate

One who presents a counter-argument.

Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched

Don’t make plans for something that might not happen.

Don’t give up the day job

You’re not very good at something; you couldn’t do it professionally.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Don’t focus all of your attention on one thing.

Drastic times call for drastic measures

Extreme desperation requires drastic actions.

Elvis has left the building

The show has ended; it’s all over.

Every cloud has a silver lining

Be optimistic; difficult times will lead to better days.

Far cry from

Something very different from something else.

Feel a bit under the weather

Feeling sick or unhealthy.

Give the benefit of doubt

Believe someone’s statement without proof.

Hear through the grapevine

Hear news from someone who heard it from someone else.

Hit the nail on the head

Do or say exactly the right thing.

Hit the sack / sheets / hay

Go to bed.

In the heat of the moment

Overwhelmed by what’s happening at the moment.

It takes two to tango

Both people involved in a bad situation are responsible.

Jump on the bandwagon

Join a popular trend or activity.

Keep something at bay

Keep something away; prevent it from approaching.

Kill two birds with one stone

Solve two problems at once with a single action.

Last straw

The final problem in a series of problems.

Let sleeping dogs lie

Leave something alone if it might cause trouble.

Let the cat out of the bag

Reveal a secret that was previously concealed.

Make a long story short

Come to the point; leave out details.

Method in the madness

A purpose in what seems crazy behavior.

Miss the boat

Miss out on something.

Not a spark of decency

Having no manners at all.

Not playing with the full deck

Mentally, psychologically, or intellectually deficient.

On the ball

Understanding a situation well; attentive.

Off the record

Unofficial; confidential; not for attribution.

Oldest trick in the book

A well-known and much-used trick or method.

Off the cuff

Without preparation; spontaneous.

Old habits die hard

People find it difficult to change accustomed behavior.

Once in a blue moon

Very rarely.

Open the flood gates

Release something that was previously under control.

Out of the blue

Happen unexpectedly.

Out on a limb

Do something risky without support from others.

Over the top

Totally excessive and unsuitable for the occasion.

Pen is mightier than the sword

Words and communication have greater effect than war.

Push one’s luck

Try to obtain more, risking loss of current advantage.

Raining cats and dogs

Raining very heavily.

Reap the harvest

Benefit or suffer as a direct result of past actions.

Roll up one’s sleeves

Get ready for hard work.

See eye to eye

Be in full agreement.

Shot in the dark

A complete guess.

Sink your teeth into

Do something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

Skating on thin ice

Do or say something risky that could cause trouble.

Stand in good stead

Be useful or of good service in the future.

Strike while the iron is hot

Act at the most opportune moment.

Take a back seat

Choose a less important role.

Take with a grain/pinch of salt

Doubt the accuracy of information.

Take a nose dive

Experience a rapid drop or decrease.

Take the plunge

Venture into something despite the risks.

Taste of one’s own medicine

Receive the same (unpleasant) treatment one has given others.

Think the world of

Admire someone very much.

Tight spot

A difficult situation.

Tongue in cheek

Intended humorously or ironically.

Turn a blind eye

Pretend not to notice.

Walk on eggshells

Be extremely cautious about one’s words or actions.

Want someone’s head on a platter

Desire severe punishment for someone.

Watch someone like a hawk

Observe very closely; keep careful watch.

Water under the bridge

Past problem no longer considered important.

Wave a dead chicken

Do something useless in hopes of solving a problem.

Weak in the knees

Barely able to stand because of emotion, fear, or illness.

Wear many hats

Perform many different roles or tasks.

Weather the storm

Survive a difficult period successfully.

Wet behind the ears

Inexperienced and immature.

Whale of a time

Enjoy oneself greatly.

Whistle in the dark

Pretend to be brave in a scary situation.

Why keep a dog and bark for yourself

If someone can do a job for you, let them do it.

Wide off the mark

Incorrect; not what is expected.

Wild goose chase

A futile or hopeless pursuit.

Wipe the slate clean

Make a fresh start.

Wolf in sheep’s clothing

A dangerous person pretending to be harmless.

Work your fingers to the bone

Work extremely hard.

Worm’s eye view

A perspective seen from below or an inferior position.

Worth one’s salt

Capable; competent at the specified job.

Wrap one’s brain around

Concentrate hard to understand something.

Zero in on something

Focus all attention on one thing.